More like Subaru and the 4Runner, Jeep buyers are almost a cult, let Ford go after them. We conquest Suby and Toyo all the time (and they us) whereas Jeep doesn't show up on the Radar in either direction with Honda buyers.

More like Subaru and the 4Runner, Jeep buyers are almost a cult, let Ford go after them. We conquest Suby and Toyo all the time (and they us) whereas Jeep doesn't show up on the Radar in either direction with Honda buyers.

I like Subbies. I've been renting them when we fly to the Puget Sound.

But they are fairly small, more like a tall station wagon (a great thing IMHO) while the Pilot is a van.

I wonder about Honda marketing this vehicle's offroad capabilities. Going after the Jeep Grand Cherokee a bit?

Yeah I wonder about this "off-road-capable" bit... I would love to see Honda create a true 4-Runner competitor, but I don't believe for a second they will really do that with the Passport... And if so, how much different will the Passport be vs. the Pilot in terms of off-roadness... Is it mostly just marketing, or will the actual bones & related bits actually be different enough to be more capable than the Pilot/CR-V.

I was thinking... wasn't the original Passport more off road capable? While the Rodeo was not the greatest SUV ever built, it provided the means to truly be more off road worthy compaired to this new Passport.

Did Honda forget all this? Nah! Just good old marketing as others have said. This vehicle will sell well though as few Honda owners probably venture more down a dirt driveway then some trail.

Will use RDX 2.0T with CRV AWD and be capable of pulling maybe 1500 lbs if we are lucky.....probably will feature a new CVT that is designed to handle more power and compete with the Infiniti that no one buys because of the CVT. The vehicle will be off road capable, with the ability to handle dirt and snow covered roads.

Honestly.....am I the only one that feels that Honda simply has no idea what functional off road vehicle means? The HRV was a huge disappointment to me. What can you do The CRV although a nice raised car is not off road capable or capable of pulling anything considering the CVT. Canít even pull it behind a motorhome. And then the Pilot.....bloated Van with non-sliding doors and limited off road capabilities. To big, underpowered and limited. Only thing that makes it marketable is the ability to pull 5000 lbs.

"Just got back from the Honda national dealer meeting in San Francisco this week where I saw this car in person. It is not related to the RDX. Itís basically a short wheelbase 5 passenger Pilot. It will be powered by the 280 hp 3.5 V6 engine from the Pilot, Ridgeline and Odyssey with standard 20 inch wheels. It will basically come in 2 trims one a Sporty urban type vehicle with sporty styling trim type graphics and ground effects package and a more off road type styling and wheel tire package"

I'd actually be interested in the more off road type version in the future. It'd be between that or a new Ridgeline to replace my current Ridgeline. It should be just as or more capable than my Ridgeline which is surprisingly capable until you want to go rock climbing.

Honda1 wrote:"Just got back from the Honda national dealer meeting in San Francisco this week where I saw this car in person. It is not related to the RDX. Itís basically a short wheelbase 5 passenger Pilot. It will be powered by the 280 hp 3.5 V6 engine from the Pilot, Ridgeline and Odyssey with standard 20 inch wheels. It will basically come in 2 trims one a Sporty urban type vehicle with sporty styling trim type graphics and ground effects package and a more off road type styling and wheel tire package"

Honda1 wrote:"Just got back from the Honda national dealer meeting in San Francisco this week where I saw this car in person. It is not related to the RDX. Itís basically a short wheelbase 5 passenger Pilot. It will be powered by the 280 hp 3.5 V6 engine from the Pilot, Ridgeline and Odyssey with standard 20 inch wheels. It will basically come in 2 trims one a Sporty urban type vehicle with sporty styling trim type graphics and ground effects package and a more off road type styling and wheel tire package"

Here's hoping for the J35, something about the size of the first gen Pilot, with a great trunk for all the stuff I carry because my first gen Pilot could, plus the ability to take 6ft tall adult kids with me occasionally or even on long rides, without the excess bulk the three row Pilot has. Should be lighter, not handle like a minivan. Have oodles of character to it that has been lost from Honda's in recent years and an external design that you'll still like a decade down the road.

I don't think Honda knows what a low range transfer case is though... Off roading is a loosely used term by marketing when a vehicle goes on gravel... I would love to see Honda make a real SUV some time, but I'm guessing its way too much money to invest with a small return. Toyota has the underpinnings of the Land Cruiser and Land Cruiser Prado to pull from, and well, real truck parts too.

Impossible Dream wrote:

CarPhreakD wrote:They're really launching with the V6? Really/why?

I wonder about Honda marketing this vehicle's offroad capabilities. Going after the Jeep Grand Cherokee a bit?

Yeah I wonder about this "off-road-capable" bit... I would love to see Honda create a true 4-Runner competitor, but I don't believe for a second they will really do that with the Passport... And if so, how much different will the Passport be vs. the Pilot in terms of off-roadness... Is it mostly just marketing, or will the actual bones & related bits actually be different enough to be more capable than the Pilot/CR-V.

I wonder about Honda marketing this vehicle's offroad capabilities. Going after the Jeep Grand Cherokee a bit?

Yeah I wonder about this "off-road-capable" bit... I would love to see Honda create a true 4-Runner competitor, but I don't believe for a second they will really do that with the Passport... And if so, how much different will the Passport be vs. the Pilot in terms of off-roadness... Is it mostly just marketing, or will the actual bones & related bits actually be different enough to be more capable than the Pilot/CR-V.

It's all about money. the Pilot outsell the Toyota 4 runner every year ,except 2017 . I really believe that they beat the pilot by 500+ unit and I think that the 9speeds transmission and the mini-van looks have a lot to do with it. Honda doesn't compete any more, no more creativity, no more best engine , outsource their transmission etc. If they rebadge the rdx into Passport ,I would sell mine and buy the honda version . It has been a long time that nothing exciting come out Honda/Acura . The RDX is great . Let's hope that they don't mess with it. A type R 3.0v6 twin turbo would get the Germans attention

Honda1 wrote:"Just got back from the Honda national dealer meeting in San Francisco this week where I saw this car in person. It is not related to the RDX. Itís basically a short wheelbase 5 passenger Pilot. It will be powered by the 280 hp 3.5 V6 engine from the Pilot, Ridgeline and Odyssey with standard 20 inch wheels. It will basically come in 2 trims one a Sporty urban type vehicle with sporty styling trim type graphics and ground effects package and a more off road type styling and wheel tire package"

Some are still saying this is related to the RDX, please read Honda1 post. Itís a two row Pilot.

I wonder about Honda marketing this vehicle's offroad capabilities. Going after the Jeep Grand Cherokee a bit?

Yeah I wonder about this "off-road-capable" bit... I would love to see Honda create a true 4-Runner competitor, but I don't believe for a second they will really do that with the Passport... And if so, how much different will the Passport be vs. the Pilot in terms of off-roadness... Is it mostly just marketing, or will the actual bones & related bits actually be different enough to be more capable than the Pilot/CR-V.

It's all about money. the Pilot outsell the Toyota 4 runner every year ,except 2017 . I really believe that they beat the pilot by 500+ unit and I think that the 9speeds transmission and the mini-van looks have a lot to do with it. Honda doesn't compete any more, no more creativity, no more best engine , outsource their transmission etc. If they rebadge the rdx into Passport ,I would sell mine and buy the honda version . It has been a long time that nothing exciting come out Honda/Acura . The RDX is great . Let's hope that they don't mess with it. A type R 3.0v6 twin turbo would get the Germans attention